"In the name of Lord Rody's butler, I am Mike," the old gentleman said evenly. "I advise you to leave at once. If Lord Rody arrives, given his temperament, none of you will survive."
"Is that so… how thoughtful of you," Toby snarled between his teeth. "Everyone keeps hyping up this 'Slayer' like he is unbeatable. I'd like to see if he can really kill me, Toby the Boxer, with a wave of his hand."
He raised his fists, steel gauntlets gleaming. "Before that, I'll test you, butler."
Toby lunged. Mike met him head on, cane snapping up to catch both metal-clad fists. Power thudded through the wood. Mike guided the force down and aside. The gauntlets punched twin pits into the paving stones.
Mike riposted in a blink, the cane darting straight in. On a man of normal height, the thrust would have struck the waist. On short, compact Toby, it went for the chest. Toby's reflexes were sharp. His right fist shot across his body and blocked the thrust. They traded dozens of quick exchanges before springing apart.
"Old man, is that all?" Toby scoffed.
Mike's breath came a touch faster. He smiled without fear. "Age catches up. The body does not last forever."
He glanced at his companion. "Mr. Windfire Wheel, find Lord Rody and inform him."
"On it, Butler Mike. Hold out for a bit. I will get the captain," Windfire Wheel said, shifting into motorcycle form and roaring away.
"You hear that?" Toby grinned, eyes glittering. "After him. Do not let that bike escape. Leave this old man to a few of you."
A knot of pirates sprinted after the fleeing machine. The rest waited three heartbeats, shared a look… and scattered in every direction.
Mike planted his cane and chuckled. "Not every pirate is a fool, it seems."
"Mr. Mike, let's chase them," Carmen urged.
"No need," Mike said gently. "Do not forget what he is. A vehicle. Those pirates will never catch him, and when they follow him back to Lord Rody, I doubt any of them will live."
...
Rounding a narrow alley on their way to meet the others, Rody and Nami heard the crisp crack of gunfire. They turned to see a man in a wide cloak, eyes like rifle barrels, standing amid the bodies of six armed pirates. A seventh lay on the stones, shaking so hard his gun clattered from his hands.
"S-so fast. Too accurate," the pirate stammered. "I didn't even see you fire. All of us were hit… all in the heart. So this is the marksmanship of the strongest bounty hunter in the East Blue… Daddy Masterson…"
Daddy Masterson. Once a Marine prodigy with a rifle. He had lost to the Red Hair Pirates' marksman, Yasopp. Seeing a father's love in a photo tucked in Daddy's coat, Yasopp had spared him and spoke of his own son. Daddy had left the Marines soon after, choosing the life of a bounty hunter to spend more time with his daughter.
Today was routine. Bag a few wanted small fry. March them to Loguetown's Marine base. Trade bodies for Berries with Captain Smoker. Swat down the predictable reprisals.
Then a couple stepped out of the corner of the street. Daddy's instincts screamed. The danger came from the man. Red hair. Those distinctive marks on his face. There was no mistaking him.
"Rody the Slayer," Daddy said quietly. "Fifty million Berries. Highest bounty in the East Blue."
Rody tilted his head, amused. "Thinking of cashing me in?"
"For fifty million, what bounty hunter would not try?" Daddy kept his eyes on Rody and did not blink.
"Rody… the Slayer," the prone pirate gasped. "That face… that pattern. It's him. The strongest, cruelest man in the East Blue…"
He never finished. An engine howled into the alley. A motorcycle shot toward them.
"Captain, help, help," the bike cried. "Someone wants to steal the little bike you adore."
Rody put a hand to his brow. "Can you not say things like that?"
The motorcycle skidded to a stop and unfolded with sharp clicks. Metal arms extended. A yellow head rose. Windfire Wheel stood in humanoid form.
"It… it turned into a person. And it can talk," Daddy whispered. Even he stared, and the pirate on the ground was struck dumb.
Nami stepped forward. "Windfire Wheel, who is trying to take you?"
"The captain's lady, it is a gang of pirates," he said, calmer now that he had found Rody. "Their leader calls himself Toby the Boxer. Butler Mike could not contend with their numbers, so he told me to find the captain."
"You didn't tell them who Rody is?" Nami asked.
"I did. They refused to believe it. Said no one could destroy fifty ships. Claimed the stories in the papers were just bragging and exaggeration. Frogs in a well," Windfire Wheel huffed.
Boots thundered at the alley mouth. A dozen pirates burst in, led by a short, muscular man.
"Heh. You cannot run, bike. You belong to me."
"Rody the Slayer," someone breathed. "And Daddy Masterson…"
"Captain, look," a pirate hissed to the short man. "The one with the marked face. That is the Slayer."
"So you are Rody," Toby said, grin fading as he ignored the bounty hunter entirely. He stared at Rody like a starving dog at a steak. "You dare ignore me. Good. I will see if you are as great as the rumors claim."